Swivel electrical connecter



Aug 23, 193,2- H. RoHRDANz 1,873,042 's wIvEL ELECTRICAL ,CONNECTER Filed July 5; 19:50

15712972 for" raid Wraan Patented Aug. 2.3, 1932 HAROLD BOHBDAN Z, OIE' INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA.

SWIVEL ELECTRICAL GONNECTER Application mea my a, isao. serial no. 435,462.

This invention relates to an electrical connecter and more particularly pertains to a means for effecting electrical connection between relatively revoluble parts; the inven- 5 tion also pertaininglto swivel electrical connecters of the type set forth in the United- States Patent Number 1,7 62,422 issued to me under date of'June 10, 1930.

An object of the invention is to provide a .0 swivel electrical connecter embodying simple and eiective means for maintaining an'elec- Y trical connection between interconnected, relatively, revoluble, telesco ed parts and which is so formed as to maintain a closed l5 electrical connection between the 'revoluble parts so as to avoid sparking due to the Jformation of gaps and thereby obviating the possibility of burning out of the connecter.

Another object is to providea swivel electrical connecter which, while applicable to various uses, is especially adapted to eecting connection between electrical conductors leading from a source of electrical supply and conductors leading to an electrically operated appliance 4such as a lamp, motor, heater, lat iron, curling iron, and the like, and which may also be employed in telephone connections.

A further object is to provide a swivel connecter in which the parts are so formed, and arranged as to facilitate their assemblage and their removal and replacement.

With the foregoing objects in view, to` gether with such' other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention e. resides in the parts vand in the combination,

construction and arrangement of partshere- "inater described and claimed and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a view of the connecterias seen in side elevation.

Fig. '2 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. 4' l Figi. 3 is a view illustrating various parts of the connecter in disassembled relation with vthe parts shown partly-in section and partly in elevation. l

Fig. 4 is a-detail in horizontal section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 as seen in the direction indicated by the arrows. 1

Fig. 5 is a detail in cross section as seen on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 as seen in the direction indicated by the arrows.

lF1g.-6 is a perspective View o fj a contact element for effecting electrical connection beween telescoped relatively revoluble conducors.

Fig. 7 is -a perspective'-view illustrating a 0 modiiied form of the contact element. l

Referring to the drawing more specifically, A and B indicate generally relatively revoluble inter-connected members, the members A and B being here shown as embodying elec-v trically conductive cylinders 10Vand 11, respectively, which are disposed in telescoped arrangement with the cylinder 11l extending` into the cylinder 10 in spaced vconcentric relation thereto. The cylinder 10 lis `carried on a support C which may be of any suitable construction adapted to eiect electricalconnection with one terminalof a source of electrical supply but which is here shown as embodying an insulated block 12 comprising a member of an electrical plug; the cylinder 10 being positioned in an insulating cap 13 carried by a metallic collar 14 having .screw engagement with a recess in the insulated block 12. l Y

An electrical conductor 15 leads from a binding post 16 on the block 12 through the latter and through thecap 13 and has the inner end portion thereof extended so as to be interposed between an inturned flange 10' on the inner end of the ,cylinder 10 `to eiect electrical connectionwith the latter.

The cylinder 10 and cap 13 are held in place on the insulated Vbody 12 by'means of an electrically 'conductive stem 17 which extends'through the lblock 12 and is formed with a collar 18 arranged to bear on an insulating ring 19 disposed internally of the l cylinder 10 and seating on the flange 10'; a g' nut 20 being screwed on the outer end of the stem 17 against the insulated block 12 between which end the collar 18, the ring 19, cylinder 10 and cap 13 are clamped in place in the collar 14,. thereby rigidly aiixng the vmembers A and B cylinder 10 relatively to the insulated block 12; and also clampingithe flanged end of the cylinder 10 against the extended end portion of the conductor 15 which overlies the underside of;the ca 13.

The stem 1 is formed with an end portion 21 which-projects through the cylinder 11 and constitutes an arbor b which the are pivota ly interconnected. 1

The member B includes a tube 22 which slidably encompasses the stem portion 21 in electrical contact therewith, and inter-l posed between the tube 22vand cylinder 11 is an insulatedl sleeve 23; the tube 22, sleeve 23 and cylinder 11 being disposed lin close frictionalengagement to form aunit as shown in Fig. 3'.' v The sleeve 11 and tube 22 are `formed with end extensions 25 and 26,'tted with binding screws 27 and 28. respectively. for effecting connection with a -pair of electrical conduc- `tors 29. and 30 which lead to any suitable oint.

The members A and B are heldin their lrelatively -revoluble relation against longitudinal movement by means of a screw threaded into a socket 41 onv the end of the 'a'pair of connecters whichmay be electri-` cally connected to a pair of conductors of an electric circuit in any suitable manner, be-

ing here shown as connected to a pair of vcontacts 32 and 33 adapted to be engaged with the usual slip socket connecter.

The members A and B are enclosed ina shell 34 which has screw engagement with the collar 14 and is fitted with an insulated ring 35 at its outer end through which the conductors 29 and 30 lead.

The'cylinder 10 slidably contacts an outwardly extending end flange 36 on the cylinder 11 and thus an enclosed chamber` 37 is formed between the cylinders.

vimportant feature of the invention resides in a means for effecting electrical connection between the relatively revoluble cylinders which means consists ofan electrically conductive, resilient cylinder D arranged in the chamber 37 and effecting'slidable contact with the adjacent circumferential walls of the cylinders 10 and, 11. The cylinder D is here shown as formed of fan; electrically conductive spring wire bent to form a series of coils which are collectivel bent to form a'cylinder. lThe cylinder ld thus formed is irregular'in contour, as the coils may assume various positions relatively to each other, but in its entirety is quite ilex- 1ble and resilient. The coils are contracted on placing the cylinder D between the cylinders 10 and 11, and as the wire is resllient,

the outer and inner portions of the cylinder D will bear under slight pressure against the adjacent surfaces of the cylinders 10 and 11 and thereby effect electrical connection therebetween.

The cylinder D may be formed of either' a single' len h of wire, or of a multiplicity of lengths o wire and the coils forming same may be disposed in various arrangements; it f being found in practice that the coilsmay become considerably entangled and the convolutions thereof may extend at various angles relatively to each other so as to form a 1 somewhat mixed mass of wire strands, but by reason of the wire body being placed under compression whenjin position 1n the connecter, with various portions ofthe wire in overlapped contacting relation and with portions thereof contacting the cylinders 10 and 11, a very satisfactory electrical connection is afforded between said cylinders. In fact the essence of the present invention-resides in interposing between the relatively 1 revoluble.. cylinders a mass of electrically conductive wire strands intermingled with each other and contracted together under tension between the cylinders so that a number of lengths of the strands of wires adja- 1 cent the surfaces of the cylinders will bear closely thereagainst with the lengths of at least a portion of the strands extending in the general direction of the lengths of the cylinders so that on rotation thereof these strands will be wiped transversely. This insures an eiectivefand enduring electrical connection between the wire strands and the cylinders. y

In Fig. 6 of the drawing, the member D is shown as formed of a coil of wire, the convolutions 37 of which are elongatedv and are collectively arranged to form an annulus which is adapted to be positioned around the cylinder 11 and to be crowded into the cylin- J der 10 on assembling the cylinders in their telescoped relation. The member D, which constitutes a wiper contact member, may -be formed as illustrated in Fig. 7; that is, of a plurality ofannular members 38 formed of 1 spirally wound lengths of wire bent to form rings which arel assembled in super osed relation and are adapted to bepositioned--between the cylinders 10 and 11 with the outer portions of the rings contacting the cylinder l 10and with the -inner portionsthereof contacting cylinder 11, thereby affording an y 'electric connection between said cylinders.

The operation of theinvention is apparent from the foregoing, it being obvious that l on connectlng the terminal of the connecter to the lines of an electric circuit, the electric current will flow through theconductor 15, cylinder 10 to the conductor 29, or vice versa; the ernannt tiowmg from the cylinder 10 5 p through vthe wiresk constitutingthe member D to thecylinder 11, or vice lversa; and current flowing from the conductor 30 through the tube 22 and stem 17 ,-or vice versa, `according to the directionof ilowofthe electricy current through th@ lines from the electric clrcuit to which the connecter is applied. .j

1. In a swivel electrical connecter, a pair 1,0 of spaced telescopin'g relatively revoluble :electrically conductive cylindrical members, and a resilient mass of electrically conductive strands interposed between and contact-A' ing said cylinders to afford electrical c'onnection therebetween.

'-2. In a swivel electrical connecter, a pair of" spaced telescoping relativelyfrevoluble elec-y ltrically conductivel members, an annular ar# rangement of coiled electrically conductive non-insulated Wire arranged in the space be! tween said members afording an electrical connection therebetween; at least a portion -of the'lengths of said wire extending longitudinlly of said membersand contacting ,therewi'tli`."---- Y 3. In a swivel electricalscorniecter, a pair of.v spaced telescoping.. relatively`evoljuble Y lelectrically conductiveA members, and a mass.v

from, means for el'ecting electrical connection betweenfsaid cylinder and another terminall of the source of electrical supply, a second electrically conductive cylinder interposed between said lirst named vcylinder and named cylinder, l'and 1a mass of lose. wire coils, of an electrically conductive material interposed between said cylinders and yleldably bearing thereagainst toatlord electrical connection therebetween.

" 7. In a swivel electrical connecter, a pair of spaced telescoping relativelyrevoluble electrically conductive cylindrical members,

said stem andiinsulated fromthe latter, means v anda mass of electricallyconductive non-insulated wire strands inter-mingled ywith each other and contracted together under tension between said members and bearing there` against to effect electrical connection Vtherebetween.

- f HAROLD ROHRDANZ.

of loosely coiled -electrically conductive non;` A 50 insulated wire interposed between saidmembersand rictionally bearing thereagainst` to afford an electrical connection between said fmembers. 4.. In a swivel lelectrical connecter, a pair of- 35 spaced concentrically Aarranged electrically conductive members, lmeans for supporting said members for relative rotation, and a subf I'stantially cylindrical' mass of loosely coiled'- spring wire interposed between said. members .40- in# wiping contact therewith to effect electrical connection'therebetween'.

5.In a swivel'electrical connecter, anin= 'sulated support, an electrically conductive stem carried'by said support, an electrically 415 lconductive cylinderencircling said stem and insulated therefrom, an ,electrical conductor Vhaving an end. portion interposed between I said support and an end fof said cylinder,-

' means embodying said .stem for clamping said 5Q cylinder against said conductor and for sel "curing said cylinder` in iixed relation to said "support, a swivel revolubly supported by Asaid stem'including a pair of electrically cenductive'membersinsulated from each other, oneV 55 of `-which is arranged in electrical contact with said stem, and means for affording a wiping electrical connection between the other of said members and said cylinder. 4 6. 'In afswivel'electric connecter,an elec- 50 v.trically conductive stem, an insulated-.support therefor, means for effecting electrical con-- nection bet-Ween said stem andV one terminal of a source-of electrical supply, an electrically conductive cylinder encircling said stem in 65 .spaced relation thereto and insulated there- 

